Banteay Srei Temple

History Of Banteay Srei Temple: Consecrated in 967 A.D. Banteay Srei was the only major temple at Angkor not built by a monarch; its construction is credited to a courtier named Yajnavaraha (Khmer: យជ្ញវរាហៈ), who served as a counsellor to king Rajendravarman(Khmer: ព្រះបាទរាជេន្រ្ទវរ្ម័ន). The foundational inscription says that Yajnavaraha was a scholar and philanthropist who helped those who suffered from illness, injustice, or poverty.

Originally, the temple was surrounded by a town called Isvarapura. It has been speculated that the temple's modern name, Banteay Srei, is due to the many devatas carved into the red sandstone walls.

Yajnyavaraha's temple was primarily dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Originally, it was carried the name Tribhuvanamahesvara — great lord of the threefold world — in reference to the Shaivite linga that served as its central religious image.

However, the temple buildings appear to be divided along the central east-west axis between those buildings located south of the axis, which are devoted to Shiva, and those north of the axis, which are devoted to Vishnu.

The temple's modern name, Banteay Srei — citadel of the women, or citadel of beauty — is probably related to the intricacy of the bas relief carvings found on the walls and the tiny dimensions of the buildings themselves.

Some have speculated that it relates to the many devatas carved into the walls of the buildings.